MARCH 2017

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THE LOGISTICIAN

“My logisticians are a humorless lot … they know if my campaign fails, they

are the first ones I will slay.”

ABOUT THE UNIVERSTITY PAGE-1

Alagappa University Reaccredited with 'A' Grade by National As-

sessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is located at Karaikudi

in Tamil Nadu is accessible from Madurai and Tiruchirappalli Air-

ports within two hours. The 440 acre green and lush campus houses

all the academic activities. This University has emerged from the gal-

axy of institutions initially founded by the great philanthropist and

educationist Dr. RM. Alagappa Chettiar.

The University's motto is "Excellence in Action" and the University

keeps before it the vision of excellence in all spheres of its action.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

This is a young, vibrant entity established during the academic

year 2016-17 at Alagappa University. Logistics Management is get-

ting professionalized of late, which is evident from the fact that this

MBA (Logistics Management) programme is sanctioned to Alagappa

University as an Innovative Programme with liberal funding by the

University Grants Commission (UGC). The faculty members of the

DoLM are well qualified, industry-academia enriched, Nationally

and Internationally experienced professionals. Infrastructure at the

command of the department is envious. Video conferencing facility,

Wi-Fi environment, Networked Computer Laboratory, well stocked

Library, Conference halls are few notable features. The DoLM offers

industry focused MBA (LM), M.Phil (LM) and Ph.D. in Management

- Specializing in Logistics Management.

The DoLM is striving hard to position itself as a thought leader in

the National and International Logistics space.

STATE-OF-THE ART CURRICULUM

The latest revision of the curriculum was made during the year

2016 incorporating new courses in the fields of multimodal

transport system, retailing industry logistics and modern logistics

operations management.

Summer Training (on the job) Programme in Logistics Industry for

2 months. Special focus on Soft skill development, Written Com-

munication and Event Management. Placement focused pro-

gramme, Entrepreneurial Assistance. Job Assistance through Execu-

tive Empowerment Pragramme MoUs are planned with Institutions of Im-

portance in India and Abroad.

Dr.M.Senthil,

Professor and Head i/c.

EDITOR

Dr.V.Sivakumar

Associate Professor

EDITORIAL

COMMITTEE

FACULTY

Dr.S.Sudhamathi

Assistant Professor

Dr. P.Rajan Chinna

Assistant Professor

Dr. V.A.Anand

Assistant Professor

MS.R.Abirami

Teaching Assistant

Mr.M.Arulkumar

Teaching Assistant

Ph.D Scholar

(Full Tme)

Mr.S.Saravanan

Student

K.Krishnaveni

I MBA (LM)

CHIEF EDITOR

NEW DELHI: Transport and logistics costs for the trade can be reduced by as much as 38-47 per cent if the “indirect and hidden” costs of trade that accrue from delays and unreliable transportation services were curtailed, said a CII study. The study was based on four sectors – pharmaceuticals, textiles and garments, elec-tronics and auto components.

Regulatory documentation related to exports and im-ports, terminal handling and inland transportation and export (from ICDs to ports)

emerged as the top three challeng-es, based on the response of 66 companies with CII member-ship.Government officials, while, admitting the challenges, said it was important for the private sec-tor to take steps that will “help gov-ernment address the issue of non-compliance”. “Any regulation is de-signed keeping in mind whether trade generally is compliant or non-compliant,” said L Satya Srinivas, Joint Secretary - Customs.

Today while government is design-ing rules with an understanding that more than 90 per cent of trade is generally compliant, it needs help from the private sector in en-

suring compliance.Calling for “all com-pliant” trade to come forward, Srinivas said the government was planning a mechanism which will allow users to have pre arrival clearance, which will lower costs. He hoped that trade will adopt the direct port delivery procedure, which enables lower processing time at ports.

Rajeev Kumar, Secretary, Shipping Min-istry, cited the example of a company in the trucking sector that has improved its efficiency by devising a strategy that helps improve the quality of life of its drivers.

E.Kirthika II Year MBA (LM)

nologies, by Elon Musk after 2012, incorporating reduced-pressure tubes in which pressurized capsules ride on an air cushion driven by linear induction motors and air compressors. The outline of the original Hyper loop concept was made public by the re-lease of a preliminary design docu-ment in August 2013, which includ-ed a suggested route running from the Los Angeles region to the San Francisco Bay Area, paralleling the Interstate 5 corridor for most of its length. Preliminary analysis indi-cated that such a route might obtain an expected journey time of 35 minutes, meaning that passengers would traverse the 350-mile (560 km) route at an average speed of around 600 mph (970 km/h), with a top speed of 760 mph (1,200 km/h). Preliminary cost estimates for the LA–SF suggested route were included in the white paper—US$6 billion for a passenger-only version, and US$7.5 billion for a somewhat larger-diameter version transporting passengers and vehicles although transportation analysts had doubts that the system could be constructed on that budget; some analysts claimed that the Hyper loop would be

Hyper loop is a proposed mode of passenger and freight transportation that would propel a pod-like vehicle through a near-vacuum tube at more than airline speed. The alpha version of the pro-posal, published on the Space X website, describes claims of the design of the system, as well as its function. The pods would accelerate to cruising speed gradually using a line-ar electric motor and glide above their track using pas-sive magnetic levitation or air bearings. The tubes could also go above ground on col-umns or underground, elimi-nating the dangers of grade crossings. It is hoped that the system will be highly energy-efficient, quiet and autono-mous. The concept of high-speed travel in tubes has been around for decades, but there has been a resurgence in in-terest in pneumatic tube transportation systems since the concept was reintro-duced, using updated tech-

several billion dollars over budget due to construction, development and op-eration costs.

To that end, a few companies have been formed, and several interdiscipli-nary student-led teams are working to advance the technology. Space X is building an approximately 1-mile-long (1.6 km) subscale track for its pod de-sign competition at its headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Some experts are skeptical, saying that the proposals ignore the expenses and risks of developing the technology and that the idea is "completely impracti-cal". Claims have also been made that the Hyper loop is too susceptible to disruption from a power outage or be-ing completely destroyed by a simple terror attack to be considered safe.

PRIYADHARSHINI V.

I Year M.B.A. ( LM )

Better services can cut transport, logistics costs: CII study

HYPERLOOP

PAGE-2

1. Water Helps to Maximize Physical

Performance If we do not stay hydrated, physical performance can suffer. This is particularly important during intense exercise or high heat. Dehydration can have a noticeable effect if you lose as little as 2% of your body’s water content. However, it is not uncommon for athletes to lose up to 6-10% of their water weight via sweat This can lead to altered body temper-ature control, reduced motivation, in-creased fatigue and make exer-cise feel much more difficult, both physically and mentally. Optimal hydration has been shown to prevent this from happening, and may even reduce the oxidative stress that occurs during high intensity exer-cise. This is not surprising when you consider that muscle is about 80% wa-ter . So, if you exercise intensely and tend to sweat, then staying hydrated can help you perform at your absolute

3 Science-Based Health Benefits of Drinking Enough Water

Govt focus on infra to cut down logistics cost: Gadkari:

PAGE-3

2. Hydration Has a Major Effect

on Energy Levels and Brain

Function Your brain is strongly influ-enced by hydration status. Studies show that even mild dehydration (1-3% of body weight) can impair many aspects of brain function. In a study of young women, flu-id loss of 1.36% after exercise impaired both mood and concen-tration, and increased the fre-quency of headaches . Another similar study, this time in young men, showed that fluid loss of 1.59% was detri-mental to working memory and increased feelings of anxiety and fatigue . A 1-3% fluid loss equals about 1.5-4.5 lbs (0.5-2 kg) of body weight loss for a 150 lbs (68 kg) person. This can easily occur through normal daily activities, let alone during exercise or high heat.

3. Drinking Water May Help to

Prevent and Treat Headaches

Dehydration can trigger head-aches and migraines in some in-dividuals . Several studies have shown that water can relieve headaches in those who are dehydrated . However, this appears to de-pend on the type of headache. One study of 18 people found that water had no effect on the frequency of headaches, but did reduce the intensity and duration somewhat . AROKIA RAVEENA R. I Year M.B.A. LM

Government is working on boosting infrastructure, particularly ports, roads and waterways, to significantly

reduce logistics cost that is “very high” in the country, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.He made a

pitch for port-led development which is “crucial” for higher economic

growth.“Our logistics cost is very high. It is 18 per cent. It is easy to take any

material from Mumbai to Dubai or from Mumbai to London, but it is very diffi-

cult to take material from Mumbai to Delhi as it is costly and complicated... We

want to give highest priority to that on how we can reduce this cost,” he

said.Speaking at the Andhra Pradesh Investors Summit, the road, transport,

highways and shipping minister hoped that the target 40 km of road construction per day will be achieved

by next year. But our target was 40 km per day, and I am confident that next year, we will complete that tar-

get,” he said, adding that the government will complete 2 lakh km National Highway on time. “Most im-

portant for our development is port led development... we have Sagarmala as a big investment project.We

have already started work on Rs. 1 lakh crore,” he disclosed.Last year, the three flagships Cochin Shipyard,

Shipping Corporation of India and Dredging Corporation recorded profit of Rs. 6,000 crore and “for this year,

we are expecting profit of about Rs.7000 crore and we are going to invest this profit“.

Manikandan L.

II-MBA (LM)

Companies including General Mo-

tors Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Fiat

Chrysler Automobiles NV could see

the immediate end to an exemption

from a 25% duty the U.S. imposes on

all pickup trucks and some work

vans produced outside the country,

the WSJ’s Robbie Whelan reports.

The exemption to what’s known col-

orfully as the “chicken tax” is includ-

ed in Nafta, and trade experts say it

would disappear if the trade agree-

ment is gutted—highlighting the way

Nafta’s many provisions have been

embedded into the costs of products.

The U.S. business community in

China is starting to line up behind

calls for a tit-for-tat approach with

Beijing on trade and investment. Af-

ter years of caution, the WSJ’s Mark

Magnier and Josh Chin report, the

companies are embracing some of

the Trump administration’s tough

talk in hopes of gaining better access

to China’s markets. Shipping and

logistics companies would certainly

like better access.

ECONOMY & TRADE

An Airbus assembly plant in Tianjin,

China. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG NEWS

U.S. consumers and factories are

doing their part to match the

growing shipping demand. New re-

ports this week point to more goods

moving through the economy, the

Delivering up-to-the minute news,

analysis, interviews and explanato-

ry journalism on logistics, supply-

chain management, e-commerce

and more

U.S. agriculture exporters may

be concerned about tough talk

on trade, but they’re not seeing

the impact in overseas markets.

The chief executive of Bunge Ltd.,

one of the world’s big commodities

traders, tells the WSJ’s Jacob

Bunge the balance between price

and supply remains the major fac-

tor that purchasers of U.S.-grown

crops consider in moving goods

around the world. Agricultural

traders have watched warily as Mr.

Trump ratcheted up criticism of

trade policies, and some are look-

ing at the risks to their supply

chains. Archer Daniels Mid-

land Co. says it is prepared to ad-

just its grain-processing operations

in the event of new trade waves.

Recent figures from U.S. ports sug-

gest exports are steaming ahead:

the ports of Los Angeles and Long

Beach reported a combined 20.5%

year-over-year increase in out-

bound flows in January. Still, the

volume was down from the previ-

ous three months, a slowdown that

may get the attention of some ex-

porters.

Manufacturers of pickup trucks

have special reasons to be wor-

ried if the U.S. scuttles the North

American Free Trade Agreement.

WSj’s Ben Leubsdorf reports,

suggesting solid momentum to

start the year. December, growth

that came as retailers maintained

imports at a healthy pace follow-

ing the holidays in an apparent

display of confidence in the con-

sumer economy. The sales ex-

pansion comes as retailers seem

to have exerted greater discipline

in stocking—the industry’s inven-

tory-to-sales ratio has been at

relatively low levels after store

owners piled up goods far beyond

demand earlier last year.

A battle over online payments

in the European Union is a

fresh reminder that e-commerce

regulation remains a work in pro-

gress. Business groups are slam-

ming a European Union proposal

that would require customers to

enter extra security information

for online purchases above a

nominal amount, the WSJ’s Todd

Buell reports, saying tighter con-

trols could cut online sales by

more than $11 billion a year.

With forecasts of strong growth

in cross-border e-commerce de-

mand, those questions will only

grow larger as more consumers

shop beyond their home coun-

tries.

A.Muthukkumar

II-MBA (LM)

Today’s Top Supply Chain and Logistics News from WSJ PAGE-4

Logistics experts and think-tanks feel India should speed up $500-million Chabahar Port in Iran and, start a regular shipping service to the Iranian port from India. In May 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed pacts with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for de-veloping the Chabahar port as India’s gateway to Af-ghanistan, Russia and parts of Europe by land, by-passing Pakistan. Located in the Gulf of Oman, Chabahar is in the Sistan and Baluchestan province in the South Western tip of Iran; close to the China-controlled Gwadar port in Balochistan of Pakistan. While Gwadar is a deep sea port, Chabahar needs to be developed to accommodate bigger ships. India agreed to help develop a rail line from Chabahar to Zahedan, near the tri-point of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, to connect Iranian railway. Slow progress Logistics experts having knowledge of the region, however, point out that even after seven months of the signing of the agreement, there is little activity on the ground. Shakti Sinha, India’s former envoy to Afghanistan and Director of Nehru Museum and Library, says that the Indian establishment might be busy in preparato-ry work. “Normally six months to one year is spent in preparing the detailed feasibility report,” he said. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director-General of MEA-sponsored think-tank Research and Development

System for Developing Countries (RIS), however stresses that India should start a shipping service to help develop trade infrastructure at Chabahar and boost trade both with Iran and Afghanistan. Inadequate traffic India currently has a shipping service to Bandar Ab-bas in Western Iran. Apparently the service doesn’t attract adequate traffic as Iranian trade was hit due to western sanctions. Afghanistan trade is limited to India supplying essen-tials like medicine and importing dry fruits, carpets etc by air. Chanturvedi says the cost of air cargo is subsidised by India. Shipping to Chabahar While a regular shipping service to Chabahar would-n’t be financially viable at this juncture, Chaturvedi said that India should bear the cost to open the land route to Afghanistan without further delay. An international logistics consultant supports the view. According to him, India in the past opened such services to Yangon by initially incurring losses. But with time, it helped develop a demand for such ser-vices. “Opening new avenues has a cost and India should show the urgency to bear it,” he said .

E.SRISHOBANA II YR MBA (LM)

CUSTOM OFFICER

INDIA SHOULD START SHIPPING SERVICE TO CHABAHAR, SAY EXPERTS

How to Become a Customs Officer?

The Indian Revenue Service has two wings, one being Income Tax and the other Customs and Central Exer-cise. The Indian Customs and Central Excise Service (IC & CES) is basically concerned with two main aspects, mainly Customs and Excise. While Customs is concerned with the checking and levy of duty on taxable goods brought into the country, the Excise department is involved with the taxation of goods manufactured within the country. The members of this service begin their Career as Assistant Collectors of Customs/Central Excise and may rise up in the hierarchy to the level of Chief Collector of Customs. Qualifying Exam

To become a customs officer, the candidates have to appear for the Civil Services Examination, Which is con-duct by the Union Public Service Commission in two separate parts as Preliminary and Main Exam. The se-lected candidates sent to Chennai for training. Eligibility Criteria

The candidates who score above 55% of marks in Bachelor degree and should above 19 yrs can apply for the examination. The exam is conducted annually and the notifications are published in the employment news-paper. How to prepare for the Exam and Interview? The candidate must be aware of Current affairs, general knowledge, English, Basic Mathematics, Aptitude test, General studies etc., and the entire exam is based on these topics and followed by the selection and in-terview. Abirami R.

Teaching Assistant

PAGE-5

Nivetha R.

II Year MBA (LM)

1st Rank Holder

(Still in 3rd Semester)

Department of Logistics

Management

STUDENT’S ACHIVEMENTS

PAGE-6

Pandiyarajan C.

I Year MBA (LM)

ALUTAS(Photography)

1st Prizes

Deveki S.

I Year MBA (LM)

Ramya G.

I Year MBA (LM)